Apparatus for compressing garbage



July 21, 1970 K. SMOLKA ETA!- APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING GARBAGE Filed May is, 19 68 3 Sheets-Sheet l I x-gw ATTOn-NEBE July 21, 1970 KY SMOLKA ET 3,521,553

APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING GARBAGE Filed May 16. 1968 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

, Inventors; .J .SrnoZ/ c H. A rencLt M1 6-. SchuZ e M My July 21, 1970v K. SMOLKA ETAL 3,521,553

APPARATUS FOR GOMPRESQSING GARBAGE Filed May 16, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors.- .SrnoZ/ c: M A rendtmfischug mihwwgw ATTCKNESS United States Patent 3,521,553 APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING GARBAGE Kurt Smolka, 82-86 Wittenauer Str., 1 Berlin 26, Germany, and Werner Arendt and Gerhard Schulze, Berlin, Germany; said Arentlt and Schulze assignors to said Smolka Filed May 16, 1968, Ser. No. 729,679 Claims priority, application Germany, May 19, 1967,

Int. Cl. B30b 15/08, 15/30, 15/32 US. Cl. 100-98 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for compressing garbage dropping through shafts are characterized in that the garbage is consecutively compressed in three stages in a compression chamber by pressures extending perpendicularly to each other, whereby in the course of the first stage a pressure plate causes compression in horizontal direction while separating the shaft from the compression chamber, the plate being moved into a position wherein it forms a wall of the final compression space, while in the second stage a second pressure plate carries out compression in a vertical direction perpendicularly to the direction of the first compression and is moved to form a second wall of the final compression space, and while during the third stage a horizontal compression against a countersupport takes place, the support being moved away from the final comression space at the end of the compression.

This invention relates to an apparatus for compressing garbage which is dropped through shafts.

Garbage is now compressed before being placed into the usual garbage gathering containers so as to be able to utilize it better and make economically possible the collection of light garbage the propositions of which continuously increase.

Difficulties are encountered in carrying out these requirements. The apparatus must provide a substantial compression of the garbage and yet it must occupy little space so that it can be introduced into existing buildings. In case of devices wherein garbage drops into shafts there is the danger of operational breakdowns when a new supply of garbage is dropped during the compression process.

An object of the present invention is to provide an extensive compression of garbage without any difficulties while using little space for the apparatus.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to compress garbage in a compression chamber consecutively in three stages with pressures extending perpendicularly to each other, whereby in the course of the first stage a pressure plate causes compression in horizontal direction while separating the "ice sion and is moved to form a second wall of the final compression space, and while during the third stage a horizontal compression against a countersupport takes place, which is moved away from the final compression space at the end of the compression.

Pressure which according to this invention is carried out in different directions, provides a better compression of garbage which is not homogenous. The volume of the compression chamber is diminished for the following stage corresponding to the compression which took place pre viously, so that the pressure effect is fully utilized in the following stage. There is no interference with the compression procedure by the subsequently dropping garbage.

A press used to carry out the present invention includes a filling chamber which may be connected with the shaft and a compression chamber located to the side of the filling chamber and extending along the entire width thereof. The bottom of the filling chamber consists of a first pressure plate which is swingably upwardly about a horizontal axis and which in its bottom position constitutes a slide from the filling chamber to the compression chamber, while in its upwardly swung position it separates the filling chamber from the compression chamber and constitutes a wall of the final compression space. The plate carries upon its rear side an upwardly curved section which forms the bottom of the filling chamber when the plate is swung upwardly. A second pressure plate which has the same width as the first pressure plate, extends along the first pressure plate when it is swung upwardly. The second pressure plate is movable vertically and at the end of its compression stroke it forms the second wall of the final compression space. A third pressure plate is located horizontally close to the final compression space and is movable horizontally along the raised second pressure plate toward a slide which limits the final compression space and which can be moved away from the final compression space after the end of the compression.

It is advantageous to move the pressure plates and the slide by hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregates. Furthermore, the hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregate for the third pressure plate is located above the final compression space and a tubular extension piece is connected with the piston rod of the aggregate along its entire length. This extension piece carries at its other end the third pressure plate extending into the final compression space. A pressure means source for the piston-cylinder aggregates is located at the foot of the casing below the first pressure plate.

This arrangement provides an extremely compact and yet accessible construction which requires only a small base surface in relation to the cross section of the filling chamber and which is of small height. The piston-cylinder aggregates are located in chambers which are otherwise free. The small space requirements of the press facilitate its adaptation, particularly if it is incorporated later on in already existing buildings.

To provide a greater drop of garbage into the filling chamber, and its introduction into the compression chamber, as well as the proper closing of the compression chamber, a cutting knife for the garbage is provided at the casing of the compression chamber close to the upper edge of the first pressure plate when it is swung upwardly.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing diagrammatically and by way of example only, a press constituting a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the press in front view, partly in section, looking in the direction of arrow I in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section, looking in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the press.

The press shown in the drawings has an upper part containing the filling chamber 1 and the compression chamber 2, as well as a bottom part 3. The press can be connected at the filling chamber 1 by means of a flange 4 with the shaft of a building. The bottom of the filling chamber 1 is constituted to a greater part by a first pressure plate 5 which can be swung upwardly about a horizontal axle 6 in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 2). In its bottom position the plate 5 constitutes a slide directed from the filling chamber 1 to the compression chamber 2. When the plate 5 is swung upwardly it moves garbage which was dropped into the filling chamber 1 while compressing it into the compression chamber 2. At the end of this movement the plate 5 closes the compression chamber 2 relatively to the filling chamber 1.

The casing carries a knife 7 which can cut garbage located within its range so that this garbage can not impede the movement of the plate 5 into its upper position. The plate 5 carries upon its rear side a curved plate 8 which forms the bottom of the filling chamber 1 when the plate 5 is swung upwardly. The plate 5 is moved by a hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregate 9 which is pivotally fixed at the bottom of the foot portion 3 of the casing and to the plate 5.

The compression chamber 2 extends along the entire width of the filling chamber 1. A second pressure plate 10 is movable vertically in the compression chamber 2 along the first pressure plate 5 when the latter is in the upwardly swung position, as indicated by the arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 2. At the end of its compression stroke the plate 10' forms a second wall, so that a final compression space 11 is provided (FIG. 3).

The second pressure plate 10 is moved by a second hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregate 12 which is also mounted at the bottom 3 of the casing.

A third pressure plate 13 is located sidewise in the casing close to the final compression space 11. The plate 13 is movable horizontally along the compression plate 10 when the plate 10 is raised. The plate 13 is actuated by a third hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregate 14. The aggregate 14 has a longitudinal axis extending parallel to the second compression plate 10 and is located above the final compression space 11.

The third pressure plate 13 is connected with one end of a tubular connecting piece 15 which surrounds the aggregate 14 along its entire length and which is movably mounted in the casing. The other end of the tubular piece 15 is connected with the piston rod 16 of the third piston-cylinder aggregate 14. When the piston-cylinder aggregate 14 is extended, the third pressure plate 13 is moved in the final compression space 11 in the direction of the arrow C (FIG. 1), the opposite side of the space 11 being closed by a slide 17. Upon completion of the compression operation, the slide 17 is moved by a hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregate 18 away from the final compression chamber 11.

The various hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregates are supplied from a source 19 of pressure medium located at the bottom 3 of the casing.

A curved downwardly directed outlet pipe 20 is located behind the slide 17 as a continuation of the final compression space 11, the opening of the pipe 20- being located above the usual garbage collecting container 21 which is placed under it. Upon the completion of the compressing operations, the compressed garbage pieces are pushed out of the pipe 20 by the moving third pressure plate 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the press of the present invention requires a comparatively small ground surface in relation to the filling chamber so that, as a rule, a subsequent attachment of the press to existing housing installations will present no difficulties.

It is apparent that the example described above has been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that it is capable of many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for compressing garbage, comprising means forming a garbage receiving chamber, means forming a compression chamber located adjacent said garbage receiving chamber, a swingable pressure plate constituting the bottom of said garbage receiving chamber in a lower position and constituting a wall separating said garbage receiving chamber from said compression chamber in an upper position, said plate having means closing said garbage receiving chamber in the upper position of the plate, a second pressure plate movable vertically in said compression chamber, said compression chamber comprising an upper final compression space limited by a portion of the first-mentioned plate in the upper position thereof and by the second-mentioned plate in an upper position thereof, a slide located opposite said final compression space, means movable horizontally through said final compression space toward said slide for the final compression of garbage in said final compression space, and means moving said slide away from said final compression space.

2. An apparatus for compressing garbage in accordance with claim 1, in combination with a shaft, wherein said compression chamber is located at the side of said garbage receiving chamber and extends the entire width thereof, said garbage receiving chamber being adapted to be connected with said shaft, the first-mentioned plate in its lower position constituting a slide directed toward said compression chamber, said means closing the garbage receiving chamber consisting of a curved plate connected to a rear surface of the first pressure plate and constituting the bottom of said garbage receiving chamber in the upper position of the first pressure plate, said second pressure plate having the same width as the first pressure plate and being movable vertically along the first pressure plate when the latter is in its upper position, and wherein the means for the final compression of the garbage comprise a third pressure plate movable along the raised first pressure plate toward said slide.

3. An apparatus for compressing garbage in accordance with claim 2, comprising a hydraulic piston-cylinder aggregate connected with the third pressure plate, located above said final compression space and having a piston rod and a connecting member extending the entire length of said piston rod and having one end connected with said piston rod and another end connected with the third pressure plate.

4. An apparatus for compressing garbage in accordance with claim 2, comprising a casing and a source of compressed medium located at the bottom of said casing below said first pressure plate.

5. An apparatus for compressing garbage in accordance with claim 4, comprising a curved downwardly extending outlet pipe carried by said casing, said slide being located between said outlet pipe and said final compression space.

6. An apparatus for compressing garbage in accordance 3,005,403 with claim 4, comprising a knife carried by said casing and 3,065,586 located adjacent an upper edge of said first pressure plate 3,135,400 when the first pressure plate is in its upper position. 3,231,107

1 6 3,450,036 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,041 10/1933 Jacobson 100232 2,029,984 2/1936 Butterfield et a1. 2,955,529 10/1960 Marble 6 Van Endert 1O0232 XR Ghiringhelli 53-124 Tapp et a1. Clar. Broersma 100232 BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R.

XR 10 10o 215, 232, 233,218 

